May 31 - Goodbye North Pointe

August 2013....it all started here, first day of kindergarten:

And here we are, she has "graduated" from 5th grade. 

Congratulations Julia! She earned several awards: Presidential Gold Award (straight A's), honorable mention American Legion Award (for being a good citizen), Character Crew, Bluebonnet (for reading and writing essays on books written by Texas authors) and Robotics Award. So proud of you!!

Pics with the parents

Mrs. Smith, Julia & Simon (robotics partner), Julia, Chase & Kendall, Julia and Reem, Julia and her fellow Girl Scouts 

May 30 - Non-Stop Parties

Have you heard the running joke about "Maycember"? That May is basically Christmas level busy without the presents? Well, I'm here to tell you that's it's true (this year at least). School stuff has been insane this month, especially the last week! Julia had a 5th grade pool party on Friday (I had to literally take a day off of work for set up, tear down and to serve pizza for hours). The kids all had fun. Yesterday she had a nacho party (because the pizza party wasn't enough?) at the same time Luke's class had a pizza party and then water fun (they play outside with water gun type toys). Then today was 5th grade graduation for a couple hours. I need a vacation from the last week of school!

Julia & Reem at the pool party

My favorite little man

May 26 - I'm a Princess

Jillian's new obsession? Dressing like a princess! 

She picked this dress for school on Friday. She is usually very clingy during drop off, but with her princess dress, she was excited, confident and told JD "Bye dad!" while pushing him out the door!

Jillian's choice for yesterday was this adorable tutu outfit (which she calls her princess dress). She was running around the grocery store in this twirling, charming all the shoppers! So adorable!!

Saturday afternoon...she spilled water on her princess dress so she moved on to...another princess dress! How beautiful is this little one. 

May 25 - That Boy is on FIRE!

The Orca practice meet was last Saturday and JD was out of town (in the south of France for a week for work...rough life!). I scheduled a babysitter for 6.15am and when she didn't show up by 6.25am, a quick call confirmed she overslept. No problem-I woke up Jillian, dressed her in record time and we made it to the pool by 6.35. Luke swam free, back, breast, fly and did a relay. He did AMAZING! He wont the free and back (beating a year round swimmer), came in 2nd in the breast and was dq'd in fly. I am so so proud of him! He was on fire out there!

Julia skipped the practice meet because she had her first Aquastar long course meet on Sunday. Also, her first meet since December. She practiced 1 day a week until a few weeks ago so we weren't sure how she would do. And....she did fantastic! USA Swimming has published 'motivational cut times' for each age group and achieving certain times grants a swimmer entry into higher level meets. Also, to move up to the next practice group she needs 3 "A" cut times in 3 different strokes. Guess what? She got her first one in backstroke!!

And she is close on fly and free. She qualified for a big meet in Austin next month. Not sure if she will attend but still pretty cool.

So proud of these little fish!

May 14 - Orcas

Summer swim team time! Orcas started last week and surprise, surprise-Luke is excited about it! I have been shocked at his enthusiasm for practice (I'm hopeful it continues for the remainder of the season). Jillian is having fun on the playground and charming all the parents at practice. 

May 13 - Pool Time!

It's May which means...the neighborhood pool is open! The weather was beautiful last weekend so we took the kids for the afternoon. Jillian was so excited she squeezed herself into an 18mon bathing suit and her little butt cheeks were hanging out. She was so cute and proud of herself I didn't have the heart to change her. 

Jillian had a blast jumping in off the side of the pool while Julia and Luke played together for hours. I was really impressed with Luke-he usually gets super cold and wants to leave after 30min but zero complaining from him. He did great!

Love my little munchkins

My girls

Adorable little chubster